MoscowTurnsDown'ElectionDay'Protest

The Moscow city authorities have not yet received an application for a "Voting Day" demonstration on October 20 and 21, but will not green-light any such event on Pushkin Square, local officials say.

The Moscow city authorities have not yet received an application for a "Voting Day" demonstration on October 20 and 21, but will not green-light any such event on Pushkin Square, local officials say.

The city authorities had previously considered an Opposition Coordination Committee application for a rally on New Pushkin Square. The city authorities suggested an alternative venue to the south of the city center. On Friday, the opposition submitted another proposal requesting permission for an "Election Day" event on October 20 and 21 on Pushkin Square.

"We have not received anything yet, but the opposition cannot hold their event there (Pushkin Square) on October 20 and 21, because at that time there will be another charity demonstration planned by the Central District prefecture," regional secuirty department official Vasily Oleynik said.

Elections to the Opposition Coordination Committee take place on October 20 and 21. Voting will take place in parallel on- and offline. The Opposition Coordination Committee will be elected for a year, and will comprise 45 people, 30 drawn from a general list, and five from each of three groups according to their ideological leaning (left, center, nationalist). Two hundred and sixteen candidates have put themselves forward, including leading opposition figures.